Recommend a mountain bike
Discussion
I am after a mountain bike to mainly road ride with the odd bridleway thrown in. I have not cycled for some years so really after a good beginners bike. I am 6ft and 17st, think rugby prop forward, so will need something sturdy. I'd like an upright riding position and ideally decent front suspension as my wrists are knackered following a head on car crash some years ago.
There are so many bikes now for sale that I am totally flummoxed as to where to start looking. I intend to keep it for a while so want a good one, and don't mind a second hand one. I can spend up to £750 so should get something decent. I can't ride a road bike due to my wrists.
I know so much about cars, but sweet fanny adams about mountain bikes. Can anyone point me at a starting point?
Cheers guys.
Grumpy
There are so many bikes now for sale that I am totally flummoxed as to where to start looking. I intend to keep it for a while so want a good one, and don't mind a second hand one. I can spend up to £750 so should get something decent. I can't ride a road bike due to my wrists.
I know so much about cars, but sweet fanny adams about mountain bikes. Can anyone point me at a starting point?
Cheers guys.
Grumpy
grumpynuts said:
I am after a mountain bike to mainly road ride with the odd bridleway thrown in.
Sounds like you want a trail bike or hybrid to me, not a mountain bike. Look at things like Specialized Crosstrail, Giant Roam or Trek Dual Sport. As you’re a big lad something with suspension forks and hydraulic disk brakes are probably a good idea, easily done for your £750.The main brands such as Specialized and Trek are good. UK brands such as Orange are also very good.
Go to a proper bike shop rather than Halfords.
You could join a local mtn bike club to get some first hand advice.
I would think a cross country hardtail with front suspension and disk brakes would be sufficient.
And 750 should be an adequate budget.
Go to a proper bike shop rather than Halfords.
You could join a local mtn bike club to get some first hand advice.
I would think a cross country hardtail with front suspension and disk brakes would be sufficient.
And 750 should be an adequate budget.
Selling mine soon - Boardman MTB Team 29er from 2017 that looks a lot like this (but now minus reflectors, obviously!)
I'm a similar height and build to you. Rockshox Recon 120mm air fork, SRAM NX 1x11 gearing, hydraulic discs. Would be well under your budget - if you're interested them PM me.
I'm a similar height and build to you. Rockshox Recon 120mm air fork, SRAM NX 1x11 gearing, hydraulic discs. Would be well under your budget - if you're interested them PM me.
Cupramax said:
Sounds like you want a trail bike or hybrid to me, not a mountain bike. Look at things like Specialized Crosstrail, Giant Roam or Trek Dual Sport. As you’re a big lad something with suspension forks and hydraulic disk brakes are probably a good idea, easily done for your £750.
Might want to watch your terminology there. A trail bike is most definitely a mountain bike ;-).If I was OP I’d be looking at a 29er XC orientated hardtail. Possibly even cyclocross bike depending on well your wrists hold up. My main concern would be getting a bike that’s too off road orientated and finding it very slow on the road if that’s where you’re spending a lot of riding.
I like the cannondale stuff and have a few with leftys as well as fox forks. For your riding, my particular best bike is a cannondale trail FSI 29er. 2x8 drive, lefty front with 110mm, alloy framed, sram stuff and weighs 11 and a bit kg. So fast on road and trails, just ballistic, rolls really well.
You can pick up minters on ebay for about 750, they do make decent money though as they're a very good bit of kit.
Whatver you go for, try to get an air front fork, you're a big lad, and it will handle it, just get a shock pump and stick a bit more air in!
A decent light 29er, on rocket ron tyres goes like s
t of a blanket on road as well as trails.
You can pick up minters on ebay for about 750, they do make decent money though as they're a very good bit of kit.
Whatver you go for, try to get an air front fork, you're a big lad, and it will handle it, just get a shock pump and stick a bit more air in!
A decent light 29er, on rocket ron tyres goes like s
t of a blanket on road as well as trails. DDg said:
Quick q (sorry OP)... anyone got an opinion on a Cube Attention SL? Thinking of getting last years model for the missus, under the cycle-to-work scheme. Tell me if it’s carp or okay, thanks.
My daughter runs a Cube WLS race hardtail, for the last few years, but grown out of it now. It's a good bike, with some nice kit on (decent forks, cranks etc, but we have had two rear deraileur/ clutches, and the head bearings, well, I would have some sealed units fitted from new if they aren't sealed, ours were the cheapest nastiest loose ball units and with little grease, rusted up in about a month! I'd say it has been a good biek though, just let down by some cheap nasty bits that dont compliment the rest of the bike at all .
She moved to full suspension in Jan and we got an 18 spec cannondale trigger carbon 3 for her, lot of bike for the money at 50% of list.
OP - was in similar position to you (and a bit heavier ...)
I just looked out @ last years HardTail reviews in MTB magazines (full suspension doesn't work if you're carrying a bit of timber) Last years bikes are alway discounted (so in theory getting more for your money) without it being the latest and greatest. So you'de be looking at those advertised as 2018 bikes.
MBR HardTail reviews
I then bought mine through the Bike work Scheme (even though my own Ltd company)
One bit of advice if you're anywhere near Evans Warehouse near gatwick - They were happy to make up 2-3 bikes I wanted to try out - and took them out for a spin up/down the road/lanes nearby.
Meant I got a good fit of bike (shortish legs/long body in my case) Rather than buying untested.
Ended up with a Cannondale 29er SL1 - in theory a £1250 bike for about £850.
Hope that helps.
I just looked out @ last years HardTail reviews in MTB magazines (full suspension doesn't work if you're carrying a bit of timber) Last years bikes are alway discounted (so in theory getting more for your money) without it being the latest and greatest. So you'de be looking at those advertised as 2018 bikes.
MBR HardTail reviews
I then bought mine through the Bike work Scheme (even though my own Ltd company)
One bit of advice if you're anywhere near Evans Warehouse near gatwick - They were happy to make up 2-3 bikes I wanted to try out - and took them out for a spin up/down the road/lanes nearby.
Meant I got a good fit of bike (shortish legs/long body in my case) Rather than buying untested.
Ended up with a Cannondale 29er SL1 - in theory a £1250 bike for about £850.
Hope that helps.
grumpynuts said:
Are any brands better than others? Should I go to a small independent shop or would I get a decent bike from Halfrauds?
Indy's are usually going to give you better quality information....but my ride-to-work bike was from Evans - they are pretty good, allow test rides.You really want to go for a cross country or XC bike, if all you want to do is road and bridle path. These are by far the most efficient and will be lighter than a trail bike which will be burlier and less efficient due to geometry.
You could try Halfords, and look at Voodoo and Boardman bikes, both make good options for your budget, and you'll be able to try them in store.
Stick with a hardtail bike, as full suspension bike at your price point will be pretty poor.
I started with a Cube Acid which was fantastic.
You could try Halfords, and look at Voodoo and Boardman bikes, both make good options for your budget, and you'll be able to try them in store.
Stick with a hardtail bike, as full suspension bike at your price point will be pretty poor.
I started with a Cube Acid which was fantastic.
It seems to me that ANY mountain bike is overkill, although it would depend on split between road and bridleways, and how rough the bridleways are that you will be going on. A flat bar bike possibly even without front suspension should be good enough with the right tyres. It'll be lighter than the MTBs mentioned, and should be better on road too.
I agree with those that say a hardtail 29er, I ride mine on the road plenty and it can hustle along at a decent rate, I haven't ridden my road bike on the road yet this year as I find it more comfortable.
Just a quick browse as I am bored, this looks pretty decent spec for £750, modern trail geometry should have your weight back on the bike a bit and less weight on your wrists. I definitely notice a difference in that respect between my XC 29er with a long stem and my trail bike with a short one and slacker geometry.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/2204/products/marin-...
Visit to a local bike shop would be a good idea to try different styles, they often have discounted stuff from the previous year. Also see if any are planning demo days in the near future, my local one is and will have several brands and loads of bikes to try on a local trail.
Just a quick browse as I am bored, this looks pretty decent spec for £750, modern trail geometry should have your weight back on the bike a bit and less weight on your wrists. I definitely notice a difference in that respect between my XC 29er with a long stem and my trail bike with a short one and slacker geometry.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/2204/products/marin-...
Visit to a local bike shop would be a good idea to try different styles, they often have discounted stuff from the previous year. Also see if any are planning demo days in the near future, my local one is and will have several brands and loads of bikes to try on a local trail.
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